Panasonic introduces first IP-enabled TVs

Panasonic Corporation is showcasing its flagship Viera PZ850 series plasma TVs at CES 2008 in Las Vegas.

The company claims that the PZ850 series is the industry’s first IP-enabled television. The sets feature Panasonic’s Viera Cast technology, which provides access to online content directly from the television.

The technology provides seamless access to Google’s Picasa Web Albums. Panasonic is also building a new interface to make YouTube available over the new service.

The full HD 1080p PZ850 series comprises four models: the 46in TH-46PZ850, the 50in TH-50PZ850, the 58in TH-58PZ850 and 65in the TH-65PZ850.

Through the sets’ Pro Setting menu, users can access professional calibration software, and a dynamic ratio of 1,000,000:1.

Other features include digital cinema colour remastering, 24p native reproduction, an SD memory card slot, four HDMI connections, 100,000 hours to half brightness and a PC input.

For gamers, Panasonic has introduced a Game Mode which minimises the time lag when displaying game images on the screen.

By synchronising the response of the game image to the player’s operation, an exceptionally clear image is produced.

US-based Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the main North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.